lost his sight. But Theodorus refused to tell a lie. The judges, for
want of proof, acquitted him; and his acquittal was made the occasion
of public rejoicing.

Such was the manner in which Theodorus was treated.




CHAPTER XVII


As for the manner in which she treated Belisarius, Photius, and Buzes,
I have already spoken of it at the commencement of this work.

Two Cilicians, belonging to the Blue faction, during a mutiny, laid
violent hands upon Callinicus, governor of the second Cilicia, and
slew his groom, who was standing near him, and endeavoured to defend
his master, in the presence of the governor and all the people.
Callinicus condemned them to death, since they had been convicted of
several other murders besides this. When Theodora heard of this, in
order to show her devotion to the party of the Blues, she ordered that
the governor, while he still held office, should be crucified in the
place where the two offenders had been executed, although he had
committed no crime. The Emperor, pretending that he bitterly lamented
his loss, remained at home, grumbling and threatening all kinds of
vengeance upon the perpetrators of the deed. He did nothing, however;
but, without scruple, appropriated the property of the dead man to his
own use. Theodora likewise devoted her attention to punishing those
women who prostituted their persons. She collected more than five